I N THE HI GH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON’BLE MRS. JUSTI CE SUREPALLI NANDA WRI T PETI TI ON No.3246 OF 2026 DATED: 12.03.2026 Between:

Palugula Mahender S/o.Late P. Mallaiah … Petitioner AND The State of Telangana and 4 others.

…Respondents

ORDER:

Heard Sri K. Venkataramanaiah, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Endowments, appearing on behalf of respondents.

2. The petitioner approached the Court seeking prayer as under:

“…to issue an order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of MANDAMUS By declaring the in action of the respondents not taking any action on the representation dated 29.01.2026 and 26.11.2024 and not appointing the executive officer for discharging the duties of Palugula Maisamma Devalayam situated at Vasalamarry Village, Thurkapally Mandal, Yadadri - Bhuvanagiri District as per the section 29 of The Andhra Pradesh Charitable And Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowment Act, 1987 is illegal, and violation of Article 14, 19 and 300-A of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondent No.5 take further steps on the notice RC.No.B/5853/2024, dt.28.03.2025 and pass such other and further orders as this Hon’ble Court deems fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.”

3. The case of the petitioner in brief is that the petitioner’s forefathers constructed the “Palugula Maisamma Devalayam”, situated at Vasalamarry Village, Thurkapally Mandal, Yadadri–Bhuvanagiri District, about 300 years ago. Since then, the temple has been under the uninterrupted management of the petitioner’s ancestors, who have been providing facilities to devotees and taking steps for the development and maintenance of the temple. The members were appointed as trustees in the years 2006 and 2007 and decided to undertake further development of the temple. Subsequently, some of the villagers arbitrarily constituted a committee under the name of “Vasalamarri Gramadevatala Abhivruddhi Committee” and forcibly took over the administration of the temple. The said committee has been mismanaging the temple funds and has failed to provide necessary facilities to the devotees for conducting their prayers. Due to these illegal activities, the devotees are facing inconvenience. Thereafter, the petitioner submitted representations to respondent No.5 on 29.01.2026 and 26.11.2024, requesting the authorities to appoint an Executive Officer to the temple. Aggrieved by the inaction of the respondents, the petitioner approached this Court by filing the present writ petition.

PERUSED THE RECORD:-

DI SCUSSI ON AND CONCLUSI ON:-

4. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner mainly puts-forth the following submissions;-

a) The petitioner vide representations dated 29.01.2026 and 26.11.2024 requested the respondents herein for appointment of an Executive Officer for discharging the duties of “Palugula Maisamma Devalayam”, situated at Vasalamarry Village of Thurkapally Mandal, Yadadri – Bhuvanagiri District as per the Section 29 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowment Act, 1987.

b) The petitioner vide representation dated 29.01.2026 addressed to the Assistant Commissioner, Endowments Department, Nalgonda District further requested for taking over the said temple i.e., Palugula Maisamma Devalayam, situated at Vasalamarry Village of Thurkapally Mandal, Yadadri –

Bhuvanagiri District under the control of Endowments Department.

c) The notification dated 28.03.2025 had been issued by the Office of the Assistant Commissioner, Endowments Department, Nalgonda District vide proceedings No. RC.No.B/5853/2024 calling upon the objections or concerns on the subject issue pertaining to the registration of the subject temple “Palugula Maisamma Devalayam”, situated at Vasalamarry Village of Thurkapally Mandal, Yadadri – Bhuvanagiri District from all the villagers of “Palugula Maisamma Devalayam”, situated at Vasalamarry Villa